Kyoto Station Area

Kyoto’s main entry point, the Kyoto Station Area is a major transport hub and shopping/dining district. It’s also packed with good hotels in all price ranges and it’s a convenient place to stay.

[Kyoto Tower]

Kyoto Station Area Description

Comprising the Kyoto Station Building and the surrounding blocks, the Kyoto Station Area is not exactly a sightseeing destination, but odds are, you’ll wind up spending some time here. The shinkansen (bullet train), the Haruka airport express train and several other train lines all operate out of Kyoto Station, meaning you’ll almost certainly arrive here.

A quick word of advice:
The view of Kyoto from the train platforms is pretty grim — a lot of concrete, neon and ugly billboards. But please avoid the urge to get back on the train and go home. Once you get out into the city, you’ll find the beauty you’ve come looking for.

The main activities here are shopping in the giant malls and electronics emporiums in and around the station or visiting three of the vast temples that lie within walking distance of the station.

Kyoto Station Area Highlights

• Kyoto Station Building
• Higashi-Hongan-ji Temple
• Kyoto Railway Museum

[Kyoto Station Building: Jo Chambers / Shutterstock.com]

Things To Do And See In The Kyoto Station Area

• The Kyoto Station Building
  The gateway to Kyoto is far more than just a train station: It’s an attraction in its own right and it’s packed with shops, restaurants and things to see.

[Higashi-Hongan-ji Temple: Leonid Andronov / Shutterstock.com]

• Higashi-Hongan-ji Temple
  Japanese temples don’t come much grander than Higashi-Hongan-ji. It’s one of the best sights near Kyoto Station. Five minutes walk and you’re there.
• Nishi-Hongan-ji Temple
  Nishi-Hongan-ji Temple is a Pure Land Buddhist paradise within walking distance of Kyoto Station. It’s one of the best sights in the Kyoto Station area.
• To-ji Temple
  The pagoda of To-ji Temple soars above the suburban sprawl of southern Kyoto, reassuring the visitor that there’s still plenty of beauty left in the city.
• Kyoto Tower
  A tacky rocket poised for liftoff on the doorstep of Kyoto Station, this pinnacle of bad taste affords a great view of the city.

[Kyoto Railway Museum Main Building Display © pangyuliu]

• Kyoto Railway Museum
  The Kyoto Railway Museum is one of the best railway museums anywhere in the world. It’s a must for train fans and families with children.
• Kyocera Gallery (formerly Kyocera Museum of Art)
  The Kyocera Gallery (formerly Kyocera Museum of Art) is a small museum in southern Kyoto that showcases the history and products of Kyocera Corporation and also hosts ever-changing shows of art.

Getting To/From The Kyoto Station Area

Since it’s the transport hub of Kyoto, it’s unlikely that you’ll need directions to get here — this is probably where you’ll arrive in the city. However, just for reference, Kyoto Station is served by the JR Tokaido Shinkansen Line, the JR Tokaido Line, the Kintetsu Kyoto Line, the Karasuma Subway Line, JR highways buses, and many Kyoto city buses.

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